Research Report, Written Argument

Research Report, Written Argument

Why people shouldnt be afraid of GMOs
Irais Tarango
University of Texas at El Paso

Research Report, Written Argument

Abstract

Genetically modified organisms have created a big controversy over the years. Some
people are not sure if they can harm human health. In this report, I will be using facts
from different articles by different authors and I hope to open the minds of the Anti-GMO
community as well as introduce what they really are to those who arent well educated on
the topic.

Research Report, Written Argument

Why people shouldnt be afraid of GMOs

Genetically modified organisms are plants, animals, or microorganisms in which
the genetic material has been altered in a way that does not occur naturally by mating
and/or natural recombination. In this report, I will be concentrating on the genetic
modification of foods, why some people are against them, and why they shouldnt be. My
message is for those of who do not know what GMOs are, it can be for people who are
against GMOs, or the general public. Although GMOs contain potential health risks to
humans (Philips, 2008, p.3), GMOs have also been very successful. My purpose is to
get people to be more open minded when it comes to GMOs. Some of us, along with
many other people, will judge something based on one result and become completely
closed minded to any type of successful outcomes on whatever we are judging. For
example, I think that I have a typical hispanic family. From sitting with the adults at these
family get-togethers, Ive heard at least one Aunt or cousin of mine advise another
relative to stay away from, lets say, the McDonalds on Dyer, because a friend of a friend
found a hair in her burger two years ago. My family will share these ridiculous
experiences (which most of the time arent their own) and change the views of half the
people at the table.

Research Report, Written Argument

Now with that in mind, just imagine other families, or friends, coworkers having
some type of gathering and the topic of GMOs comes up. All it takes is one person to say
something bad about a food that was Genetically modified and most people who heard
will from then on, go at all costs to avoid them. That same scenario is possibly how the
anti-GMO community gains more members. But if youre like me, you will hear
something like that and not judge too quickly. Youd do your own research and determine
if GMOs are something you really wanna stay away from. Luckily Ive done that
research for you.
According to (Marris, 2001, p.3) people demand zero risk meaning they
demand genetically modified foods that are so perfect and 100% unharmful. Which is
very unrealistic. Its like asking for meat straight from a cow, just to know that everything
is natural. In that scenario, the meat isnt processed, checked, causing a number of
potential diseases. When it shouldve been genetically modified in the first place to avoid
all that. According to (Marris, 2001, p. 3) They do not realize that humans, through
breeding, have been manipulating the genetic makeup crops and farm animals for 10,000
years, now with that in mind, if this kind of technology has been going on, and if it were
so harmful, wouldnt there be more than just anti-GMO communities?
I understand why some of you may be alarmed by the use of GMOs. Maybe you
just discovered that their food isnt straight from the crops, or maybe your anger comes

Research Report, Written Argument

from not knowing what GMOs are, I felt the same way at first. I can relate to
your frustration. Not knowing is the worst feeling in the world. But what I do not
understand is why youre not looking for answers. Do you really know what youre
fighting against? It just takes 5 minutes to get to the nearest device to do a little selfresearch.
The controversy over GMOs causes so many people to be afraid of nothing, all
because they cant understand it. Just as (Lynas, 2013, p. 1) states, The misinterpretation
of GMOs matters enormously because these technologies are clearly some of our most
important tools for addressing food security and future environmental changes. The
human race needs those tools more than anything. We need our food to go through a
process to be checked. We need the taste to be messed around with just like we do when
we cook. If our food is bad or tastes nasty, we throw it away. Thats why GMOs exist, to
better our food so it doesnt turn into trash. We need GMOs just like we need our
mothers when she checks our Halloween candy. I believe the term genetically modified
gets people to the edge of their chairs because it might sound a little too scientific for
food. But if people understood that it only means food with DNA changed for safety
hazards and better natural taste I bet there would be no controversy.
Scientists cant prove that GMOs are totally and completely safe, but they can
limit the risk by testing them. (Reeder, N.D, pg. 3) That right there is something that
scientists do for almost anything. Cars are tested before they are released to sell. They are
tested for safety and to make sure the car does what is promised. Technology like laptops,
phones, and tablets are tested to make sure nothing blows up. But no one stays away from

Research Report, Written Argument

any of those for being put to the test right? The same concept should go for
GMOs, because we cannot survive without food.
After this author defines GMOs , he statesReeder (n.d.) states Genetically
Modified (GM) crops have the potential to grow faster, bigger, on less land, with more
nutritional value. They also have a resistance to diseases, chemicals, drought, flood and
pests. This means an enormous change to traditional farming and economics.
(Yamaguchi, N.D. p. 1) GMOs offer so much to our environment. This world cannot
afford to be afraid of genetic modification. It is understandable to see them as science that
can be harmful, but if weve been eating our genetically modified foods for so long and
there really was something bad with them, there would be so much more chaos than just
the riots of the anti-GMO community.
I hope that knowing what GMOs actually are will calm the audience of this paper
and feel a little more comfortable with them. According to (Reeder, M, 2015, pg. 3) A
genetically modified organism is an organism that has been changed by humans for a
beneficial purpose. Which means that our food is modified for good purposes rather than
bad. They are not changed to kill anyone, make anyone sick, or for anyone or any
company to gain millions by them. GMOs exist to make our food better. Reeder also
states that she believes that GMOs are good. They can save less developed nations from
starvation. They can also boost agricultural and economic success. She also includes that
GMOs can eliminate the use of strong chemical pesticides There is no direct
evidence that GMOs are safe and GMOs can be mistaken for potentially hurting the
environment Which is 100% true.

Research Report, Written Argument

The world has or will soon have the agricultural technology available to feed 8.3
people anticipated in the next quarter of a century (N. Borlaug, 2000, pg 3) But we
already do have that technology and its called Genetically modified organisms.
According to the same article, Genetic modification of crops is not some kind of
witchcraft; rather, it is the progressive harnessing of the forces of nature to benefit of
feeding the human race. Which means that GMOs are not evil. They are kind of like
cooking. When you cook, you add spices, and modify your food. The only difference
between that and GMOs is that you do not scientifically go into a lab and do all the
science stuff to change anything. What cooks do is very similar.
In conclusion, I hope that this report opened the eyes of people who are against
GMOs. If not, I hope I at least got some to start looking at them with an open mind.

Research Report, Written Argument

References
Ando, A, Khanna, M (2000). Environmental Costs and Benefits of Genetically Modified
Crops. Retrieved from http://0-web.b.ebscohost.com.lib.utep.edu/ehost/detail/detail?
vid=19&sid=5f024aaf-23d3-45ce-a380-9eeff36caa3b
%40sessionmgr110&hid=118&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZSZzY29wZT1zaXRl#
AN=3712274&db=a9h

Borlaug, N. (2000). Ending World Hunger. The Promise of Biotechnology and the Threat
of Antiscience Zealotry. Retrieved from
http://www.plantphysiol.org/content/124/2/487.fullEnding

Lynas, M. (2013). Time to call out the anti-GMO conspiracy theory. Retrieved from
http://scholar.google.com/scholar?
start=20&q=why+are+people+against+gmos&hl=en&as_sdt=0,44

Marris, C. (2001) views on GMOs: deconstructing the myths. Retrieved from

http://embor.embopress.org/content/2/7/545.
Reeder, M. (2001). Genetically Modified Organisms: Good or Bad? Retrieved from

Research Report, Written Argument

http://scholar.google.com/scholar?
hl=en&q=molly+reeder+genetically+modified+organisms+good+or+bad&btnG=&as_sdt
=1%2C44&as_sdtp=

Phillips, T. (2008). Genetically Modified Organisms. Nature Education. 1(1) p. 213.

Retrieved from http://scholar.google.com/scholar?
start=10&q=+what+are+genetically+modified+organisms&hl=en&as_sdt=0,44

Yamaguchi, D. (N.D.) GMO Research Paper. Retrieved from

http://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=why+gmo
%27s+are+bad&btnG=&hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C44